Introduction: Life on Purpose
Today we turn a corner in our “Whatever It Takes” series. We finished up the Sermon on the Mount last week… and today we start a new installment as we walk through Nehemiah, chapter by chapter for the next 3 months.
In Nehemiah we meet a man whose heart broke over a broken city—a man who chose to live a “Whatever It Takes” life for God’s glory and his people’s good. He’s a man who moved from comfortable exile in a foreign land to the dusty ruins of Jerusalem, ready to rebuild walls and restore hope.
The overarching message of Nehemiah is that God can accomplish amazing things through people committed to Him and His purposes. And what I want us to see this morning is how Nehemiah’s journey begins not with a blueprint or a battle plan, but on his knees in prayer.
The book of Nehemiah is part journal, part prayer log, part leadership manual, and all heart. Nehemiah isn’t just a story about ancient walls and old cities. It’s a call to courage, character, and commitment. It’s a divine design for life, leadership, and purpose. It aligns perfectly with our theme this year: Whatever It Takes.
And yet, despite the practical wisdom packed into this book, it’s one of the most underappreciated and under-read portions of the Bible. Many people—even seasoned believers—might struggle to locate it without a table of contents. But that’s okay, because as we walk through this story together, my prayer is that you won’t just read Nehemiah—you’ll receive from it, brick by brick, the kind of character, courage, and conviction that God builds into His people.
This is not a book of commands—it’s a story. And in this story, Nehemiah hands you tools. One at a time. You might not notice it at first. But if you keep walking with him, by the end you’ll be surprised to find your hands full—with bricks to build, courage to act, and a burden that will not let you settle for passivity as you walk through life.
So today we start filling our toolbelt. But first, some context.
Big Picture: The Story Behind the Story
I want to acknowledge that some of you are new to the Bible and that’s nothing to be embarrassed about… all of us were new to the Bible at some point and I want you to know that our leadership would be happy to help you learn your way through Scripture. If you’re a person that didn’t grow up in church and someone like me steps up here and says, “everybody turn to Nehemiah” and half the people are like “oh yeah no problem” and you’re like “I didn’t even know there was a book called Nehemiah.” I’m happy you’re here and we’re excited to learn and grow with you as you start to study God’s Word.
With that in mind, I just want to back up a bit and give you all the bigger picture… to fit this narrative into the meta-narrative of Scripture… and even for those of you who know the Bible like the back of your hand, I’m assuming that many of you haven’t spent the last few weeks soaking up the story of Nehemiah… so it might be helpful to get a little context so that we’re not lost as we walk through this text.
The Bible begins with God creating all things. He created everything. All the beautiful things testify to who He is… this place was made to be filled with His presence. His intention has always been for humanity to experience Him and enjoy Him and live in His love and to reflect this love to one another. So, God created all things and He created people to have dominion over this world in relationship with Him.
But very quickly… Adam and Even decided that they didn’t really want to do things God’s way… they’d rather do things their way… and God gave them free will to make that decision… and they were deceived by the devil, and they rejected the Kingship of God, so that they could choose to run things on their own. And as soon as this happened, everything became a mess and everything went to junk and the whole world fell apart. And this is only Genesis 1-3… relationships fell apart… relationships with each other, relationships with God and with man, our relationship with the Earth is broken now too… everything got worse and continued to get worse.
But God wasn’t going to leave this world and abandon us in the mess we made… He was going to do something about it. He started working through one family, which would become a nation… Abraham’s family would go on and become the nation of Israel. They were called to be His people… to be holy… to be different from everyone else… to live life the way He designed it to be lived… and to be a contrast to the world… they were blessed to be a blessing… so that the world would see them and realize that whatever they were worshipping was a waste of a time, and destructive to their lives, so they would turn their attention to YAHWEH and embrace His plan to save the world.
And the rest of the Old Testament tells this narrative of the people of Israel… and sometimes they were faithful to God in hard times, but more often than not they repeated the same mistakes Adam and Eve made and chose not to do things God’s way.
And instead of people looking to them as a blessing… Israel looked out at the other nations and thought “they’re having more fun than us” or “they have more power than us” or “they have more safety than us,” so we’re going to be like everybody else. And it created this cycle of rebellion and God continued to pursue them… and in the midst of that rebellion He [in essence] warned them, “Hey, if you keep rejecting Me, then I’m going to let you have what you’re asking for… which is life without Me. I’m going to discipline you by giving you what you desire.”
They continued to ignore Him and so eventually He said, “I’m going to remove my hand of protection. And I’m going to send this Pagan nation, Babylon, to come in and take over your land and to spread your people everywhere…”
And that’s eventually what happened… The people of Israel had been unfaithful to God, so God sent Babylon and their King, Nebuchadnezzar, to take over the land of Israel… Babylon came like a tidal wave and leveled Jerusalem. What had once been the glorious city of God now lay in ruins. The temple, the wall, their buildings, their homes, and their morale-all gone. They forced the people to move nearly 900 miles away to live in Babylon. And for 70 years, they lived as exiles.
The magnificent place where God’s glory was once displayed was destroyed. The Babylonian armies marched back home with the treasures of Judah, along with many captives.
But God didn’t forget them. He had a purpose and a plan. Fast forward a bit and there’s another kingdom that followed the Babylonians…A king named Cyrus ruled Persia… and another king, Darius, ruled their neighbors, the Medes. The two nations were allies, and together invaded Babylon (who overthrew Israel), and ultimately forced the Babylonian empire to surrender. And through the ministry of the prophets at the time, we know that God was the one orchestrating all these things – His plan was to get the Jews back into their land – and ultimately to send His Son.
God moved in Cyrus’ heart, saying in effect, “Let God’s people go back – back to that city that was destroyed 70 years ago.” Some historians call this the “Second Exodus.” So, the Jews went back to Jerusalem under the leadership of three men. Company A went with a guy named Zerubbabel… about 80 years later, Company B left with Ezra as the commander-in-chief… then 13 years later, Nehemiah led Company C back to Jerusalem… by the time Nehemiah’s group returned, the city was barely able to maintain security and order. Ezra sought to restore the temple and the people’s worship of YAHWEH… and Nehemiah set out to restore the wall around Jerusalem.
That brings us to Nehemiah chapter 1.
See the Need – The Man with the Burden (Nehemiah 1:1–3)
“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”
Nehemiah is different from other Old Testament characters… he’s not a prophet. He’s not a priest. He’s not a king. He’s a layperson—a man with a government job. His official title? Cupbearer to the king. That might sound like a glorified waiter, but it’s far more than that. Nehemiah is the trusted confidant of King Artaxerxes, the emperor of the known world. He is the gatekeeper to the throne, the taster of the king’s wine, the protector of the king’s life. He would eat and drink with the king – before the king would eat – so the king’s life would be spared in case someone poisoned the meal. He offered his life for the king’s, every meal…
And this meant there was trust, advice, and influence between the cupbearer and the king. In many ways, he was both bodyguard and advisor.
He lived in Susa—the political capital, the Washington D.C. of the Persian empire. He has a life of comfort. Influence. Status. He was living the high life. There was risk involved in his job, but he got to enjoy all the amenities of royalty. But then a few visitors arrive—his brother Hanani and some others from Judah.
Nehemiah asks two questions: How are the people doing? How is Jerusalem doing?
The report? “Not so good… The remnant… is in great distress and reproach. The wall is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
And at this point in the narrative, we see something that reveals Nehemiah’s heart:
“When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days…” (v. 4) This is where the story begins. Not with bricks. Not with blueprints. But with a burden. He saw a need.
Movements of God often begin when someone refuses to be indifferent. And so many God-fearing people are stuck in the mud of indifference. Nehemiah doesn’t say, “Well, that’s tough. Somebody should really do something about that.” He feels it. Deeply. It breaks his heart. Why? Because the name of God is being mocked. His people are in disgrace. And even though Nehemiah is almost 900 miles away, something inside him says, “I can’t ignore this. I have to do something.”
He was not blind to the needs around him. Notice, Nehemiah was not living in a fantasy. He was fully awake to the realities around him. He heard the report of his people: their city lay in ruins, the walls broken down, the gates burned with fire. It was a miserable, vulnerable situation.
Sometimes we see needs… and ignore them, minimize them, or explain them away… Recognizing needs may seem like the simple or obvious first step. But I wonder how many leaders or followers today live in denial and indifference? How many refuse to face hard realities—whether in their families, workplaces, churches, or communities? How many leaders get so high above the issues that they lose touch with the ground-level problems?
Let me tell you, being a “Whatever It Takes” disciple means facing reality. It means asking the tough questions: What is really happening? What is hurting my family? What needs repair in my marriage, my parenting, my friendships, my workplace my ministry? Are we blind to problems that quietly grow like weeds in our garden?
Nehemiah did not avoid the problem. He listened closely, and that clarity moved him deeply. And he had a personal concern for the needs. Nehemiah didn’t stop at recognition. He wept. He mourned. He felt the pain of his people. His heart broke. This was not a cold, distant report for him. It was personal. One author said, “You never lighten the load unless first you have felt the pressure in your own soul.” Nehemiah knew this well.
How often do we find Christians, leaders, or parents who see needs but remain emotionally distant? Who assign blame rather than bear the burden? Who critique instead of empathize? It’s okay to have a broken heart for what breaks God’s heart.
Nehemiah’s response was compassion, not accusation. He didn’t look for scapegoats or excuses. Instead, he fasted and prayed. His concern was not theoretical—it was heart-level. This is the posture of a “Whatever It Takes” disciple: deeply moved by the plight of others, willing to enter their pain, and respond with heartfelt love.
Church, this means caring beyond convenience. It means putting yourself in others’ shoes. It means not passing the buck. It means taking responsibility. So… he prays. And in doing so, he gives us a structure for meaningful prayer that we might adopt in our own prayer lives, too. Let’s continue with the narrative…
Seek the Lord – The Man Who Prays (Nehemiah 1:4–11)
“When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ 10 They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [c]revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”
Now I was the cupbearer to the king.”
Nehemiah’s first response wasn’t to rush into action. He doesn’t act abruptly or rashly… He doesn’t write a letter or make a plan or request a meeting with the king. He prays.
“I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven…” (v. 4)
And what a prayer it is. Let’s walk through it briefly:
Look carefully at Nehemiah’s prayer. He begins with praise (v. 5): “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God…” Nehemiah starts praying – not with panic, but with the character of God. He re-centers his heart on God’s sovereignty and covenant love.
He started by reminding himself who God is—mighty above all earthly powers, including King Artaxerxes whom he served. That’s a vital lesson: when problems loom, our first move is NOT to fret, scheme, or complain—but to bow before the sovereign God.
He confesses sin (v. 6–7): “I and my father’s house have sinned…” Notice he doesn’t point fingers. He doesn’t blame the previous generation or the pagans. He says, “We’ve blown it.” He even recognizes his own part in the problem. There’s no finger-pointing. He said, “We have sinned… I have sinned.”
That takes humility—a rare quality in leaders and followers alike. Often we magnify others’ faults while excusing our own. But Nehemiah models a repentant heart that owns its failures and pleads for mercy.
He recalls God’s promises (v. 8–9): “If you return to Me… I will gather you…” Nehemiah knows his Bible. He quotes God’s own Word back to Him. This is not presumption—it’s trust in the faithfulness of God. He opens the Scriptures—Leviticus and Deuteronomy—reminding God of His covenant to restore His people. Nehemiah prays boldly, not as one who doubts, but as one who trusts in God’s faithfulness.
He makes his request (v. 11): “Grant me success today… before this man.” What man? The king. Nehemiah is preparing to ask for something bold. But he doesn’t move until he’s prayed. And not just once—he’s been praying for days. We’ll learn in chapter 2 that he prayed and waited for four months before he made his move. His petition is clear and courageous. Nehemiah prays for God’s hand to move on his boss’s heart.
Nehemiah doesn’t stop at prayer. He makes himself available to be God’s instrument to meet the need. Sometimes we want God to solve problems—just not through us. But Nehemiah was ready to move. He was willing to sacrifice comfort, security, and status to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild.
He also recognized the complexity: his boss was an unbeliever. Nehemiah needed God to soften the king’s heart first. So his prayer was not passive; it was full of faith and readiness.
“Whatever it takes” disciples put God first. They pray before they act, they seek God’s face, they humble themselves, and they remember His Word.
A whatever-it-takes life doesn’t start with activity—it starts with prayer. Burden without prayer is just frustration. But burden with prayer becomes holy ambition.
Conclusion: A Brick in Your Hand – Let’s Talk about the Brick in your hands…
Let me ask you: What breaks your heart? What causes you to sit down and weep?
We are surrounded by broken walls—families in distress, young people with no direction, churches asleep in comfort, cities aching for justice and peace. And like Nehemiah, we may not be prophets or pastors or famous leaders. But maybe God wants to begin something in you—with a burden, with a prayer, with a step of obedience.
The Greater Burden-Bearer
Nehemiah was a man with a burden for his people— and as I look at his life, I can’t help but see the shadow of someone greater. Nehemiah left the luxury and safety of the Persian palace to identify with a broken people and help rebuild what was ruined. He carried a burden that drove him to weep, to pray, and ultimately to act, no matter the cost.
But how can we talk about a man with a burden for his people without talking about Jesus?
Jesus left a far higher throne than Nehemiah ever knew. He didn’t just step down from a palace—He stepped down from heaven itself. Philippians 2 says that “though He was in the form of God, He did not consider equality with God something to be used for His own advantage, but emptied Himself… taking the form of a servant… humbling Himself to the point of death—even death on a cross.”
Why did He come? Because He had a burden too. A burden for sinners. A burden for the lost. A burden for you and me. He saw us in our disgrace—not behind broken walls, but broken by sin. He didn’t stay far off. He didn’t send someone else. He came Himself. He wept over Jerusalem. He prayed in Gethsemane. And at the cross, He bore the weight of our rebellion so that we could be rebuilt—not just with bricks and gates, but with grace and truth. Nehemiah gives us a glimpse. Jesus gives us the fulfillment.
So if you’re wondering today whether God cares about the broken places in your life, look at Nehemiah—and then look to Jesus. He didn’t just come to help you rebuild—He came to make you new.
And if you’re asking, “Can God use me to carry a burden for others?”—the answer is yes. Because the same Spirit that moved Nehemiah to tears, the same love that moved Jesus to the cross, dwells in the lives of His followers.
Nehemiah’s story begins with one man who said, “Whatever it takes.” And today, God might be handing you your first brick—maybe not a physical one, but a spiritual one. A burden. A calling. A prompting to pray, to care, to act.
So here’s the question:
What will you do with the brick God is placing in your hand? Don’t just stand there. Set it in place. Start building. True “Whatever It Takes” disciples combine passionate prayer with diligent action. This journey of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls began with a kneeling man who saw the needs, (bore those needs personally), sought the Lord (committed them to God first), and made himself available to act.
MY BURDEN
As I’ve studied Nehemiah and wrestled with the weight he felt for his people, it’s caused me to reflect on the burden God placed on my own heart—not just as a biblical concept, but as a calling that’s deeply personal. And I don’t use the word “calling” lightly…
When we lived in Barbados, there was a worship song we used to sing often—many of you probably know it:
“This is the day that the Lord has made, We will rejoice and be glad in it…”
But there’s a verse later in the song that doesn’t always get sung:
“This is the year that He may appear… We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
I remember one night after a long volleyball practice, I was driving back to campus by myself. And I was just belting that song in worship. It wasn’t a pretty sound, but it was a joyful noise. I was worshipping God through a familiar kid’s song… But as I sang those words—“This is the year that He may appear”—it hit me: “Do I really believe that?” If I really believe Jesus could come back this year, how would I live differently?
And the honest answer came rushing in: I wouldn’t stay in Barbados. I wouldn’t just go back to Missouri. I would go back to Northern Colorado—because that’s where my lost friends and family live. And they need Jesus. I love them. And if He is coming soon, they need the Gospel now.
I don’t say this to elevate myself—I hope it doesn’t sound arrogant—but in that moment, I realized: I might be their best shot at hearing the good news. I have a relationship. I have a voice. I have the message. And if I sit on it, what chance do they have? I felt a burden.
So I made a call. I called Mark and asked if there were any positions open at the church. I knew God was calling me back—not just to a job, but to a mission. To be a burden-bearer for the people I love. I believe He placed this burden on my heart and called me to this mission field. I couldn’t help but think of Paul’s words –
Romans 10:14–15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
I remember those who brought the good news to me. People with beautiful feet who carried the Gospel into my life [many of you in this room] and helped me respond to and embrace the grace of God. And now, all I want is to be one of those beautiful feet for others—especially those I know and love, who are far from the Father. I want to help them come home.
What about you? What walls around you are broken and in need of repair? What challenges call for a “Whatever It Takes” disciple—a disciple willing to move beyond theory and talk, to prayer and action?
Today, the Lord is calling us to our knees—calling us to pray with passion, humility, and faith. But He’s also calling us to rise up and be His hands and feet in a broken world.
Let us pray as Nehemiah did, “Lord, make me a ‘Whatever It Takes’ disciple. Give me clear eyes to see the needs, a heart full of compassion, a spirit committed to You first, and hands ready to work. Help me not to shrink back, but to move boldly in Your power.”
Whatever burden God places on your heart—start with prayer. Kneel before God. Then rise and go, because God is still moving and doing amazing things for His Kingdom, and He’s doing this in and through the lives of His people.